The ICC Champions Trophy final was nothing short of a thriller, with India’s spinners making a massive impact on the game. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the game-changer, striking twice in quick succession to put India on top. His brilliant spell helped India claw back into the match after a solid start from New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Strong Start
The Kiwi openers, Rachin Ravindra and Will Young, looked solid at the crease, dealing with the Indian pacers efficiently. They built a promising opening stand before India’s spinners took control. India got their first breakthrough through Varun Chakaravarthy. In his second over, he trapped Will Young LBW, breaking the opening partnership and giving India some much-needed momentum.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Game-Changing Spell
Kuldeep Yadav made an immediate impact as soon as he was introduced into the attack. On his very first delivery, he bowled a beautiful googly that completely deceived Rachin Ravindra. The New Zealand opener went on the back foot, misjudged the spin, and left a massive gap between bat and pad, allowing the ball to crash into his stumps.
CASTLED! | | #KuldeepYadav makes the impact straightaway, as #RachinRavindra is cleaned up courtesy a sharp googly! 💪🏻#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar FINAL 👉 #INDvNZ | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 2 & Sports18-1!
📺📱 Start Watching FREE on… pic.twitter.com/VEl1RJOxfE
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 9, 2025
Although Rachin Ravindra had been in great form throughout the tournament, he has often found it challenging to handle quality spin bowling. His dismissal to Kuldeep Yadav once again highlighted his struggles against turning deliveries on slow pitches.
Kuldeep wasn’t done yet. In his very next over, he struck again, this time dismissing New Zealand’s captain, Kane Williamson. The experienced batter misread the delivery and ended up chipping it straight back to Kuldeep, who made no mistake in grabbing the catch.
With two key wickets in quick succession, India gained firm control over the match. Kane Williamson’s wicket was a huge setback for New Zealand. As their most experienced player, he was expected to anchor the innings. His early departure left New Zealand in a vulnerable position.
Missed Opportunities: Dropped Catches
New Zealand opted to bat first after winning the toss, a move that seemed to be working well for them initially. However, India’s spin duo, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, turned the tide in India’s favor with crucial breakthroughs.
India had a few hiccups in the field, with dropped catches providing some lifelines to the New Zealand batters. Shreyas Iyer missed a tough chance off Varun Chakaravarthy’s bowling, while Mohammed Shami also spilled a catch despite his best efforts with an injured finger.
Rohit Sharma’s Unlucky Toss Record
Interestingly, Rohit Sharma continued his streak of bad luck with the toss, losing it for the 12th consecutive time as India’s captain. Despite this, his team’s performance ensured that the toss loss didn’t impact them too much.
New Zealand made one forced change in their playing XI, bringing in Nathan Smith to replace the injured Matt Henry. The absence of Henry weakened their bowling attack slightly.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.